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Christ the King students mark Black History Month

During the month of February, Christ the King School in Burlington celebrated Black History Month with a variety of projects and activities. Students from preschool through eighth grade learned about an assortm

During the month of February, Christ the King School in Burlington celebrated Black History Month with a variety of projects and activities. Students from preschool through eighth grade learned about an assortment of historical figures and their experiences through writing and crafts.

The kindergarten class marked the month with multiple short lessons on different little known African-American inventors. For Valentine’s Day the class learned about Philip B. Downing, the inventor of the modern mailbox we use today, and then created their own mailboxes for their Valentine’s cards and treats. Students also explored the life and work of Maya Angelou and created their own biographies on what made them special and what they liked about themselves. Kindergarten wrapped up the month with an ice cream party to celebrate Alfred Cralle, inventor of the ice cream scoop.

Kindergarten students at Christ the King School listen to stories during Black History Month.(Photo11: Courtesy)

In second grade, students read “Henry’s Freedom Box” by Ellen Levine. The story follows a slave named Henry who mails himself to freedom in Philadelphia. The class then wrote from Henry’s point of view, describing the emotions and moods Henry may have felt on his difficult journey. Second graders also read short biographies and discussed the lives of various African American leaders and innovators such as George Washington Carver, Thurgood Marshall, and Oprah Winfrey.

The third-grade class worked hard to create (almost) life-sized black history heroes. The class was placed into groups where they were given a figure to research and collect facts on. One of the students in the group was traced on paper to create their hero and then they decorated the paper person in clothing he or she would have worn. The clothing was covered in facts about the figures so the viewer could guess who they were and then they were displayed on the lower level of the school. Visitors to CKS had the opportunity to learn about, among others, Nelson Mandela, Rosa Parks and Louis Armstrong and their efforts to make our world a better place.

Christ the King fifth-graders and kindergarten students hold an ice cream party to celebrate Alfred Cralle, inventor of the ice cream scoop.(Photo11: Courtesy)

Middle schoolers explored the darker side of the struggle faced by many people of color through an apartheid simulation. Students were assigned “districts” and rules on which districts they could visit and how they could interact with their inhabitants. They all soon discovered that the biggest district had the smallest number of people and the greatest amount of freedom.

Second-graders read about famous people in African-American history.(Photo11: Courtesy)

Christ the King School is a Catholic elementary school located in Burlington that serves students of all faiths from three years old through eighth grade. Information on CKS can be found at www.cksvt.org or www.facebook.com/cksvt. If you want to schedule or tour, or have any questions, call 862-6696 or email admissions@cksvt.org.